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obstinate Definition

ob·sti·nate (äb′stə nət)

adjective

  1. unreasonably determined to have one's own way; not yielding to reason or plea; stubborn; dogged; mulish
  2. resisting remedy or treatment an obstinate fever
  3. not easily subdued, ended, etc.

Etymology: ME < L obstinatus, pp. of obstinare, to resolve on < obstare, to stand against, oppose < ob- (see ob-) + stare, to stand

obstinate Related Forms

ob′·sti·nately adverb ob′·sti·nate·ness noun

obstinate Synonyms

obstinate

modif.

stubborn, firm, headstrong, dogged, pertinacious, opinionated, strong-minded, contumacious, opinionative, contradictory, inflexible, positive, perverse, contrary, cantankerous, unimpressible, determined, convinced, resolved, indomitable, adamant, intractable, crotchety, obdurate, self-willed, refractory, unamenable, unalterable, unconquerable, restive, unflinching, unyielding, unbending, immovable, tenacious, decided, heady, unmanageable, bull-headed, mulish, pigheaded, plucky, sulky, case-hardened, fixed, stiff-necked, callous, hard, hardened, relentless, recalcitrant, unrelenting, resistant, repulsive, willful, unwavering, prejudiced, biased, bigoted, dogmatic, unreasonable, unreasoning, hellbent*, die-hard*, set in one's ways*; see also resolute 2.

Antonyms docile*, submissive*, amenable.

obstinate applies to one who adheres persistently, and often unreasonably, to a purpose, course, etc., against argument or persuasion a panel hung by an obstinate juror; stubborn implies a strong, even innate, resistance to change or manipulation of purpose, course, condition, etc. a stubborn child, a stubborn belief in astrology; dogged implies thoroughgoing determination or, sometimes, sullen obstinacy the dogged pursuit of a goal; pertinacious implies a strong tenacity of purpose that is regarded unfavorably by others a pertinacious critic

obstinate Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • so: No one was ever so ready for argument and, I must add, so obstinate and lovable.
  • very: Rev. Guest is remembered by the people of New Bradwell as a very obstinate man, a man who was ahead of his time.
  • intensely: The cheap prices of commodities are the heavy artillery with which it forces the barbarians ' intensely obstinate hatred of foreigners to capitulate.
  • sometimes: PUPPETS: Charlie, a delightful little gray mouse is shy, impulsive and sometimes obstinate.
  • quite: They were quite obstinate in their opinions and sneered at my " naïvety " in accepting your bona fides.
  • even: And yet the ' friends of the BWC ' have proved themselves a tenacious, even obstinate, bunch of people.

Modifies a noun

  • refusal: This spirit seems to have arisen as an obstinate refusal to admit that things were bad.
  • resistance: Settlement Of Spartan Affairs At last the obstinate resistance came to an end.
  • man: Blair is an obstinate man, clinging to a guitar twanging Christianity in the face of a public opinion.
  • defense: His reputation was made by his obstinate defense of the castle of Chinon in 1205.
  • people: Hick thinks his proof is adequate but that obstinate people will not accept it as a proof.
  • rebellion: Let such a one see that obstinate rebellion against the will of God is damnation to personality.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: When the waiting women enumerate the drawbacks to her position of absolute guilt, she remains obstinate in her conviction of her own responsibility.
  • prove: In my experience arguments which are about money usually get solved in the end; it is arguments about principle which prove most obstinate.